From the start of March, the state government bumped up fines and will require cyclists to carry photo identification. In recent times, it's also stopped punters from entering pubs and clubs after a late-night curfew.

All this legislation is giving Sydney, some people say, the unenviable status of a nanny state. The government is now in a war against the youth and cyclists. It isn't pretty.

Never one to miss an opportunity, the people of city arch-rival Melbourne are dancing on Sydney's grave. On Tuesday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews even tweeted his prediction on where Sydney is headed next, if its public spaces and people continue to be governed with an iron fist.

Lockout laws. Compulsory IDs for cyclists. Next they'll be handing out floaties at Bondi beach. https://t.co/NWYM6HmwAD

It made sense. After all, cycling in Sydney was not a niche activity. More than a third of Sydney's population said they have cycled, according to the National Cycling Participation Survey in 2015. But as the number of cyclists grew, it became harder and harder to ride through the city.

The stern "Go Together" measures, introduced on Mar. 1, look to improve safety and increase ridership, according to the government. Authorities say they want to stem 1,500 injuries and the 11 deaths that cyclists experience on average each year.

One rule which enforces a mandatory gap between cyclists and drivers has been welcomed by cyclists, but the good news apparently ends there.

The most severe addition is the increase in fines for cyclists, which range from four to six times more costly than what they were previously. It will bring cyclists into line with fines for car drivers, albeit ignoring "the hugely different risk exposures and consequences of an impact" between the two vehicles, according to Bicycle NSW.

These fines include A$319 (US$307) for not wearing a helmet, A$425 (US$307) for running a red light, riding dangerously or not stopping at a crossing. Cyclists over the age of 18 will also be required to carry identification. The ID rule won't be enforced for 12 months, to allow cyclists to adjust to the new measure — and find somewhere to put their ID.

This rule has been labelled as "outrageous," described as a "licence scheme" that's been brought in under the guise of safety, according to Craig Richards from the Bicycle Network. CEO of Bicycle NSW Ray Rice said in a statement these laws are an indicator that "NSW is fast becoming Australia’s nanny state." It is also not becoming any greener.

You know what isn't going to make #Sydney a better city? More rules and restrictions. This vendetta against cyclists is stupid.

In a major crackdown, police were in force in the days before the new laws came into play, with 210 cyclists caught riding without a helmet in one day. Police also fined 103 people for disobeying traffic lights, and 80 people were busted riding on the footpath. It is just the beginning.

For now, Sydney's cyclists will have to endure the lesson taught by their nanny.

Need a drink to deal? Don't even think about it

Keep Sydney Open demonstrators protest the lockout laws on Feb. 21.

Image: Getty Images/Zak Kaczmarek

Feeling stressed? After you've been fined the total of your Christmas bonus, grabbing a late night drink to soothe the soul is not an option in this city.

Concerned about alcohol-fuelled violence after a spate of one-punch attacks in Sydney, the New South Government quickly implemented controversial lockout laws in 2014. These laws prohibit entry to licensed venues such as clubs and bars in the city's centre from 1:30 a.m., and alcohol service is cut off from 3 a.m. The city's casino is exempt from these laws.

While the new regulation initially met limited opposition, public sentiment has appeared to have taken quite the turn recently.

An article by Sydney businessman Matt Barrie, which decried the effect of the lockout laws on local trade and the people of Sydney, went viral in February and started a groundswell of support from Sydney's youth. Premier of the state Mike Baird's defence of his strict laws on social media was roundly mocked for days, including a song dedicated to the premier, titled "Casino Mike." Then, at least 15,000 people converged on Sydney to stage a peaceful protest. All of this, in a matter of weeks.

Opponents argued the laws had a destructive effect on business, culture and employment. The violence outside venues which the government sought to stop had been pushed to areas on the city's fringe, they claimed. The lockout laws, opponents argued, were part of an agenda to make Sydney a boring, expensive city for old people. A "boomer supremacy," said Richard Cooke in The Monthly.

The strict laws became a hot button issue, featuring in the pages of newspapers and fodder for discussion on television shows. It timed perfectly with the review of the lockout laws by the New South Wales government, which will take six months to complete.

From one issue to the next, Sydney's adults are being treated like children. Until change comes, it's back to bed and off your bike for the city's once-vibrant inhabitants.

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